FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 26, 2012
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883

Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today applauded Congress’s approval of a series of important international trade provisions that will help create jobs in the United States. The legislation will extend trade preferences for African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)-eligible countries, a provision which will help keep hundreds of thousands of women in Africa employed, and was set to expire on September 30. The legislation also makes important technical changes to the textile and apparel provisions of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States (CAFTA-DR) Free Trade Agreement. The changes will support the U.S. textile industry in North Carolina and South Carolina, and is expected to save 2,000 American jobs.

“I am pleased that today both the House and the Senate approved an extension to renew the Third-Country Fabric provision of AGOA as well as make important fixes to our CAFTA-DR agreement. The approval of these provisions supports the U.S. textile industry and will save 2,000 American jobs,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “Today’s bipartisan action will save the jobs of thousands of workers and small business owners in the United States, Africa and Latin America. This legislation is an important part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing industry, improve our international trade relationships, and support American jobs.”

The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature. To read recent Commerce testimony before Congress advocating in favor of legislative action on this issue, please visit www.trade.gov/press/testimony.